The official opening for Woodbridge Potters’ Corner Memorial Park was held Saturday, October 8.
Its landscaping, plantings, interpretation panels and memorial wall were described by project manager, Peter Leschen, as a beautiful space for both visitors and the local community and as a place to enjoy and learn about the fascinating history of the south Channel area.
The idea for the park first arose in 2013 when local resident Bruce Neill offered to donate land next to St Simon and St Jude’s church to the Woodbridge Community Association (WCA) to create the park as a place of historical reference and military commemoration.
The donation was finalized in 2018 with accompanying grants from the Tasmanian Community Fund, Kingborough Council, the DVA ‘Saluting Their Service’ program and the Teddy Sheean VC Memorial grant program.
These grants, combined with the funds already raised by the WCA, and further support from all levels of government, local community groups, the RSL and individuals fully funded the park.
The event was attended by Minister Nic Street, Mayor Paula Wriedt, local MP Dean Winter, Graham Seabourne of the South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation and some 80 people from the local community.
Peter Leschen said, “The park was very much a community endeavour and the support received over the past nine years was uplifting and indicative of the importance and strength of the south Channel community."